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Matthews says focus solely on hockey, winning after signing extension

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:46:50 GMT

Auston Matthews will be well paid to lead the Toronto Maple Leafs to a Stanley Cup championship.The question will be for the star centre is if his four-year US$53-million extension — formally signed Wednesday — will be enough to get the team over the difficult NHL playoff hump.The deal carries an average annual value of $13.25 million, which makes Matthews the league’s highest-paid player starting in 2024-25 — passing Colorado Avalanche’s star Nathan MacKinnon ($12.6M AAV).“I feel fortunate to continue this journey as a Maple Leaf in front of the best fans in hockey,” Matthews posted on X, the site formerly known as Twitter. “I will do everything I can to help us get to the top of the mountain.”Matthews said Friday it was a priority to get the deal done before training camp.“It was something I didn’t want to rush in to obviously right away,” said Matthews. “But just the whole process itself with Brad (GM Treliving) coming i...

7 tornadoes confirmed as Michigan storms down trees and power lines; 5 people killed

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:46:50 GMT

CANTON TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) — At least seven tornadoes touched down in Michigan as part of severe storms powered by strong winds that killed five people, while downing trees, tearing roofs off buildings and leaving hundreds of thousands of customers without power, officials said.The National Weather Service on Friday said an EF-2 tornado with a maximum wind speed of 125 mph (201 kilometers per hour) struck Lansing, the state capital, killing one person Thursday night and injuring three others.Lansing Police Department spokesperson Jordan Gulkis said an 84-year-old woman died after a tree fell on a home. Firefighters extricated the woman from the home, but she was pronounced dead at a hospital.The weather service also confirmed that an EF-1 tornado with winds of 90 mph (145 kph) crossed from Ingham County into the western edge of adjacent Livingston County on Thursday night.Four other EF-1 tornadoes were reported in Belleville and Gibraltar in Wayne County, and in South Rockwood and ...

Pete the peacock, adored by Las Vegas neighborhood, fatally shot by bow and arrow

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:46:50 GMT

LAS VEGAS (AP) — A beloved Las Vegas neighborhood peacock named Pete was killed with a hunter’s bow and arrow, and authorities are trying to find who was behind it.Animal Protection Services officers are investigating the death of the peacock, which belonged to a resident in a small gated neighborhood but had come to be accepted as the neighborhood pet throughout the years.Felicity Carter, a neighbor, said she found the bird Monday against a fence with an arrow sticking out of him. She wrapped Pete in a blanket and, with the help of other neighbors, took him to a veterinarian who specializes in exotic pets. She said the staff rushed to treat him, even looking into getting a blood transfusion from another peacock. But they found Pete had actually been shot twice.“I just don’t understand why someone would do this,” Carter said. “We all just want to find out who did this. We want justice for Pete.”Several neighbors say they are heartbroken. They loved to feed Pete berries a...

Jury awards $3.75M to protester hit by hard-foam projectiles fired by Los Angeles police in 2020

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:46:50 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A jury awarded $3.75 million in damages this week to a protester shot twice with hard-foam projectiles fired by Los Angeles police during demonstrations in 2020.Jurors on Wednesday ruled that the LA Police Department was negligent when one or more of its officers fired the so-called less-lethal devices at Asim Jamal Shakir Jr., the Los Angeles Times reported.Shakir had been filming a police skirmish line when he recognized his LAPD officer uncle among the formation and confronted him, shouting, “Our ancestors are turning over in their grave right now!” Shakir alleges that his uncle, Eric Anderson, then directed other officers to fire a hard-foam projectile at him.Civil rights attorney Carl Douglas, who filed the suit on Shakir’s behalf, said he hopes the sizable damages awarded will signal that similar acts of police violence cannot be tolerated. The award must still be approved by the City Council.Karen Richardson, a spokesperson for the city attorney’s off...

Man found dead in Chicago River near Bucktown

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:46:50 GMT

CHICAGO — An investigation is underway after a man was found dead in the river near Bucktown, according to Chicago police. Police say the man was pulled from the water in the 2200 block of North Elston Avenue just before 4 p.m. on Friday afternoon. 2 men charged in West Side murder of Ohio State football player’s mother According to police, the man was discovered after the marine unit responded to a call about a body in the water.Police have not yet identified the individual who was found and it is currently unclear what led to their death. 27 migrants living at Chicago Police Department 10th District weeks after sexual misconduct allegations Police say the investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information can leave a tip at CPDtip.com. Tips can also be filed anonymously.This is a developing story, stay with WGN for the latest updates. 

Mother arrested after gun found in kindergartener's backpack at Cicero school

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:46:50 GMT

CICERO, Ill. — Cicero police say a woman was arrested after her 5-year-old son was allegedly found with a gun at Columbus West Elementary on Friday morning.According to police, 35-year-old Marissa Embrey was arrested on Friday night accused of Endangering the Life of a Child and Carrying a Concealed Weapon in a Prohibited Area. Student arrested after threatening Glenbard North High School principal Police say Embrey, a Concealed Carry License (CCL) holder with a Firearm Owners Identification (FOID) card, allegedly placed the handgun in the backpack of her 5-year-old to carry it to her car. Embrey then drove her son to the school in Cicero and forgot to remove the gun from her child's backpack.In a statement, District 99 Superintendent Dr. Aldo Calderin said that the gun was found by a classroom program assistant who was helping the child find their student ID. Dr. Calderin said while helping the student, the assistant opened the child's backpack and that is when the firearm was di...

Utah County opens own investigation into FBI killing of Provo man who threatened Biden

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:46:50 GMT

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — The Utah County Attorney's Office announced Friday they have opened their own investigation into whether the FBI's shooting death of Craig Robertson, 75, of Provo, Utah, was justified or not.Robertson was killed on August 9 after he allegedly pointed a .357 revolver at FBI agents. The agents had attempted to take Robertson into custody after a string of threats against U.S. President Joe Biden, who was visiting Salt Lake City later that day. “Complete and total shock.” Neighbors speak about the Provo man killed by the FBI Deputy Utah County Attorney Timothy Taylor told ABC4 that such an investigation is mandated by state law since it was an officer-involved shooting in Utah County's jurisdiction. Taylor said his office's investigation will include all FBI evidence, as well as evidence gathered independently by Utah County."Once the investigation into the facts is complete, the Utah County Attorney will examine the evidence to determine whether the shooting ...

Green Day releases 'Nimrod' shirt with Trump mugshot to raise money for Maui

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:46:50 GMT

(WFLA) — Four-time Grammy-winning rock band Green Day has released a limited edition "Nimrod" shirt with the mugshot of former Pres. Donald Trump to raise money for those impacted by the Maui wildfires. The band posted the shirt on Instagram, which features the Trump mugshot with a yellow "nimrod." sticker over his face, in the same style as the album cover of the band's 1997 album of the same name. Could Trump mugshot merch make MAGA millions? The Instagram caption references the band's hit song "Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)," which appeared on the album. "Good Riddance. The ultimate Nimrod shirt is available for 72 hours only. Limited edition shirt proceeds will be donated to...[Greater Good Music], a charity which is bringing food to those affected by the Maui wildfires." Moms are cracking eggs on kids’ heads on TikTok. Why? The post has gone viral, amassing more than 75,000 likes and more than 2,000 comments in the first few hours.Trump's campaign is also capitalizing ...

Vice chair of CPAC steps down 

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:46:50 GMT

Conservative Political Action Coalition (CPAC) Vice Chair Charlie Gerow is stepping down from his role with the organization, both confirmed on Friday.Gerow served as both a board member for the American Conservative Union (ACU) Foundation and as vice chair for ACU/CPAC.“It is with deep sadness and true regret that I have joined several of my colleagues in resigning from the Board of ACU/CPAC. I have consistently exercised my fiduciary duties to the organization and always done my very best to fulfill all of my responsibilities to this very vital organization. I know I have done the right things," Gerow said in a statement. "Although I will not now be able to participate in the August Board meeting, I am calling on my former colleagues to authorize an independent investigation into the charges against Matt Schlapp, to conduct an independent forensic audit of the organizations finances, to obtain a written opinion of counsel that the organization is in full compliance with its o...

LIVE: Westlake's defense is stifling Ridge Point's offense, Chaps lead 21-0 at halftime

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:46:50 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Typically, an appearance in the Class 6A-Division I semifinals is something any program would be elated about. However, Westlake isn't a typical program.After falling to Galena Park North Shore last season, snapping a 54-game winning streak and three consecutive state championships, the Chaparrals are leaning on a huge senior class to start a winning streak of their own, and it starts Friday in Missouri City against Ridge Point.REPORT YOUR SCORE: We'd love to post your team's score on our website, but we need your help to do it. Email the score of your game to [email protected] and we'll get it on our websiteThe game is scheduled to kick off at 7:30 p.m., and it will be streamed live in this story beginning at 7:20 p.m. for those in the KXAN viewing area. For those outside the area, the stream is available through the NFHS Network. There will be a subscription fee required to view the game on NFHS. If you miss the game Friday night, it will re-air at 7 p.m. Saturday on...